Dimapur, April 5 (EMN): For the first time in Nagaland, authorities is set to introduce Braille Dummy Ballot Sheets and Braille Voters’ Slip in polling stations across the state to enable visually challenged voters to exercise their franchise during the ensuing Lok Sabha and Aonglenden by-elections.
According to a DIPR report on Friday, the establishment of the chief electoral officer, Nagaland has prepared the new facilities as per the directive of the Election Commission of India. “Inside the polling station, the visually challenged voter will be given the Dummy Ballot Sheet in Braille by the presiding officer on his/her request if he/she prefers to use it for helping him/her cast the vote.
“After he/she has studied the contents of the Dummy Ballot Sheet he/she may proceed to the voting compartment to cast his/her vote. Such electors after reading the Dummy Ballot Sheet will be able to cast their vote by reading the Braille embedded serial number of the candidate of their choice on the right side of the blue button on the balloting unit. However, regardless of the new facility being introduced, the visually impaired persons, if he/she so desires, will continue to be allowed the facility of a companion as provided for in Rule 49N of Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961,” read the report.
If ‘fully utilised’, it stated, the facilities will ensure “a truly inclusive and accessible” electoral process. The authorities have already dispensed the Braille Dummy Ballot Sheets to all the districts on April 5 and will be taken to the polling stations by the polling parties, it reported.
The chief electoral officer of Nagaland was reported as saying that preparations “are going well” and that 314 polling parties will leave for polling stations on April 9.
